Climate change negotiations from Rio to Doha

1
Climate change negotiations from Rio to Doha
building capacities Espen RonnebergClimate
Change Adviser, SPREPespenr_at_sprep.org
SPREP Members American SamoaAustraliaCook
IslandsFederated States of Micronesia FijiFra
nceFrench PolynesiaGuamKiribatiMarshall
IslandsNauruNew CaledoniaNew
Zealand NiueNorthern Mariana IslandsPalauPapua
New GuineaSamoaSolomon IslandsTokelauTongaTuv
aluUnited States of America Vanuatu Wallis and
Futuna
2
Overview

• The Durban Platform - AWG-DP
• Ad Hoc Working Group on Kyoto Protocol AWG-KP
• Ad Hoc Working Group on Long Term Cooperative
  Action AWG-LCA
• Process so far this year, focussing on outcomes
  of latest meeting in Bangkok
• Some reflections on what this means for prospects
  for Doha
• How to build capacities in the region

3
AWG-DP

• Roundtables held in BKK informal exchanges but
  parameters noted
• Key focus on enhancing ambition
• Attempts to revise common but differentiated
  outdated or valid
• Applicable to all universality or uniformity
  fair application?

4
AWG-KP

• Sought to develop decision for amending the KP at
  Doha
• This would allow second commitment period to
  start in January 2013
• Informal paper outlining proposed process
  developed in BKK
• Now more clarity on the options for transitioning
  in the 2nd CP
• Still doubts on who will agree/sign/ratify

5
AWG-LCA

• Sought to clarify if all issues from Bali were
  now covered
• Much disagreement on whether processes assigned
  tasks were sufficient
• Much debate as to what closing LCA in Doha
  entails in relation to Parties views on issues
  outstanding
• Some important issues such as peaking of
  emissions will be considered in 2013-2015 but in
  what format
• Comparability of pledges also not clear
• No mid-term financial target
• No clarity on common accounting framework

6
Reflections on Bangkok session

• No new measures to combat climate change, yet
  some progress to enable a successful outcome and
  balanced package of measures at the Doha
• Session almost did not happen due to lack of
  funding, a full plate Doha amendment(s) to KP
  for robust 2CP successful closure of the
  AWG-LCA and initial consolidation of ADP to map
  out the path towards a new legal regime by 2015
  to start beginning in 2020.

7
Concerns in the AWG-KP

• Legal ratification lengthy for some countries
  provisional application not feasible for some
• Continuation of usage of KP mechanisms only for
  parties with 2CP or flexibility under transition
  period
• Length of commitment period 5 or 8 years? Issue
  of ambition level overlap

8
Concerns in the AWG-LCA

• Wide disagreement on whether more work was needed
  in LCA to finish Bali
• Work mandated for Doha - shared vision developed
  country mitigation developing country
  mitigation REDD sectoral approaches various
  approaches, including markets and Review
• Has finance, adaptation, technology been
  adequately addressed?
• Chairs text is inconclusive

9
Concerns in the AWG-DP

• Agreement on 2 workstreams on post-2020 and
  pre-2020 ambition
• Disagreement on this covers only mitigation or
  also adaptation, finance and technology
• CBDR - universality of application should not
  become uniformity of application to take
  account the variety of national circumstances
• Developed countries increasingly referring to
  current socio-economic realities, flexible and
  dynamic structures to evolve over time to promote
  increasing ambition as countries capabilities
  and confidence grow

10
Building capacity for negotiations

• Last 10 years SPREP have been providing support
  to negotiators, including through negotiations
  skills training, particularly last 5
• Module approach Taking The Floor, with glossary
  of key climate change terms, key organizational
  issues (document titles, numbers), key
  negotiations jargon (FCCC!)
• Exercises include drafting position papers and
  briefs, what to expect at a COP, mock
  negotiations, developing a draft decision
• All is based on the latest state of issues in the
  negotiations

11
Other negotiations preparations

• Key issues in the negotiations are presented and
  discussed, and feedback on preferences documented
  for AOSIS
• Latest science updates provided by invited
  experts key to positioning
• In-depth discussions on priorities for the
  meetings, including ancillary issues like
  discussions with key donors on national and
  regional activities current/planned
• Improves cohesiveness, preparedness

12
Future considerations

• SPREP has developed a successful model for
  negotiations skills training and preparing for
  the negotiations
• Should be expanded to include Brussels and New
  York
• Ad-hoc support from donors in the past, need to
  have assured funding, lock in dates to allow for
  busy schedules
• Some interest from donors but nothing concrete
  many balking at the sheer costs of transport
  associated Pacific!

13
Conclusion
14
SPREP Members American SamoaAustraliaCook
IslandsFederated States of Micronesia FijiFra
nceFrench PolynesiaGuamKiribatiMarshall
IslandsNauruNew CaledoniaNew
Zealand NiueNorthern Mariana IslandsPalauPapua
New GuineaSamoaSolomon IslandsTokelauTongaTuv
aluUnited States of America Vanuatu Wallis and
Futuna
Kommol tata! Faafetai tele lava!